Iranian Crackdown on Women’s Dress

April 22 is the first day of the second month of the Iranian calendar, Ordibehest. For the past couple of weeks there has been talk that there would be a crackdown on what’s known as “Bad Hejab” or a poor interpretation of Islamic modestly rules. (Note: as of June 23, over 300 women had been arrested as part of this campaign.)

Starting today fines of about fifty-five USD will be imposed on females who are supposedly flouting the indefinable rules. Like everything else, this crackdown will last a few weeks, temporarily putting the public off balance in this three decades long boxing match between the public and its leaders. The authorities will let up for some time and then start harassing the youth again once the warm weather really starts in June.

My cab driver reported that he had been stopped earlier in the day for wearing a Chicago Bulls t-shirt. He wasn’t fined, but they confiscated the shirt. Most likely the officer is wearing it right now.

Many observers here believe that the domestic social pressure is meant to be a diversion from international concessions Iran may make in the next few weeks. When the regime looks weak globally, it flexes its might locally.